The recent tragedy in the Dominican Republic, which killed at least 221 people after the roof of the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo collapsed, has caused national commotion and collective mourning that has reverberated far beyond the country’s borders. The accident, which occurred during a performance by renowned merengue singer Rubby Pérez — who was also among the dead — highlights the urgent need for an in-depth discussion about structural safety in concert halls and entertainment venues in general.
More than 300 rescuers worked tirelessly for days, recovering bodies and searching for survivors amid the rubble. The aerial image of the nightclub, with a huge hole in the center of the roof, is a symbol of a tragedy that could have been avoided with proper monitoring.
Negligence that costs lives
Nightclubs, cinemas, theaters and concert halls must follow strict safety standards, as any structural, electrical or evacuation failure poses an immense risk to hundreds of people. Unfortunately, cases like the one at the Jet Set nightclub are not isolated.
In Brazil, the memory of the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria (RS) is still painfully present. On January 27, 2013, a fire caused by a pyrotechnic device used in a show resulted in the death of 242 people and left more than 600 injured. The tragedy shocked the country and the world, and raised a series of questions about the lack of supervision, flaws in the security system and the impunity of those responsible.
At the time, the then commander of the Rio Grande do Sul fire department, Colonel Guido Pedroso de Melo, stated that the nightclub’s license had expired and that the establishment did not have adequate emergency exits. “ It was a series of negligences , and the price was paid in human lives,” he stated.
Lack of supervision is a global problem
According to a report by the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) , one of the world’s leading organizations dedicated to fire safety, 60% of fatal fires in entertainment venues between 2000 and 2020 occurred in establishments without adequate smoke alarm and control systems. And 75% of deaths were attributed to failures in evacuation, such as locked doors, insufficient exits or lack of signage.
Civil engineer and building safety specialist Eduardo Figueiredo , in an interview with the newspaper O Globo after the Kiss nightclub tragedy, warned:
“ Most establishments see security as a cost, not an investment . And the government doesn’t always monitor security as frequently as necessary. This is a tragic combination.”
More than mourning, responsibility
The commotion caused by the death of Rubby Pérez and the more than 200 people in the Dominican Republic must go beyond mourning. It must mobilize governments, businesspeople and civil society to create and strictly enforce safety standards in crowded spaces.
It is up to the owners of these establishments not only to obtain the necessary permits, but also to maintain periodic reviews of their structures, fire-fighting equipment, emergency signage and evacuation routes. The government is responsible for monitoring, applying penalties and preventing the operation of spaces that put lives at risk.
Conclusion
Tragedies like those at the Jet Set and Kiss nightclubs should not be seen as isolated incidents. They are a reflection of negligence, failed bureaucracy and the prioritization of profit over life. Respect for safety must be an absolute priority in any venue intended for entertainment.
The grief of families who have lost loved ones is a painful reminder that lack of prevention costs lives — and that responsibility lies with all of us.
